Hamas's fighting force has been heavily degraded and much of its leadership has been killed, leaving negotiators under intense pressure from multiple directions. Israel has threatened to besiege Gaza City and is accelerating preparations for an offensive while advising hospitals to evacuate. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced, and civilians face airstrikes, severe food shortages and emerging famine conditions. The Arab League's 22 members publicly urged Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza and its weapons. Hamas accepted an Egyptian and Qatari ceasefire proposal that concedes terms keeping Israeli troops on significant Gaza territory.
Nearly two years after launching the surprise attack that sparked the war with Israel, Hamas finds itself up against a wall. Its fighting force has been pummeled by Israel, its charismatic leadership has been all but assassinated and its ceasefire negotiators face unprecedented pressure from Arab governments to give up its weapons and its rule. "Hamas is facing its worst crisis yet," said Esmat Mansour, a West Bank-based Palestinian political commentator and former militant, who is in touch with figures close to Hamas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week ordered military planners to speed up preparations for the Gaza City offensive, and military officials called on hospitals to plan to evacuate. Civilians in Gaza face the brunt of Israel's campaign, suffering displacement, airstrikes and severe food shortages with the world's experts in famine announcing famine conditions have already taken hold in Gaza.
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